troying those who had
offended them. It is very probable that they hoped to make it appear
that the blacks, having set the wood on fire, had afterwards killed
them. The whole party in the hut felt, therefore, that they must fight
to the last extremity. A line was drawn round the building, and it was
agreed that if an enemy passed it they would fire; but they would
refrain as long as possible from shedding blood. They had scarcely time
to barricade the door and windows before the outlaws appeared, mounting
the hill from the river, not as before, in single file, but scattered
over the ground, so as to take advantage of the shelter any inequalities
might afford. Some were disguised, but there were several blacks who
were in their usual unclothed state, and were evidently not
masqueraders. It might have been difficult to identify even those, as
their faces and bodies were bedaubed with pigments in strange and
hideous devices.

This time James took care not to show himself. "Stand back, men!" he
shouted in a loud voice. "If any one advances across the line we have
marked out, we must fire. We do not wish to shed blood, but the
consequence be on your own heads. Back, black men! you get killed."

The outlaws hesitated, and even the natives seemed to understand what
was said. Whereabouts the magic line was drawn, at which some of them
would be certain to lose their lives, they could not tell. Soldiers in
battle will dare any danger, but villains engaged in a criminal act are
always cowards, unless driven to desperation. Such was not the case at
present. A white handkerchief was shown on a stick, and a voice cried
out--

"We don't want to hurt you, Mr Gilpin, or your brother, or man, but
there are two fellows there, and we must have them; give them up to us,
and we will go away."

"I ask you, would you give up people who had put confidence in you?"
said James.

"We have nothing to say to that; give up the men, or we will burn down
the hut and you in it," was the answer.

"Remember the warning I have given you," said James; "however, we will
just talk the matter over, and let you know what we decide."

"Be sharp about it, then," said the first speaker; "we did not come here
to shilly-shally, and we shall advance directly the time is up. We give
you five minutes to settle the matter."

"We must take ten; and recollect that our rifles will be kept ready for
use," added James, firmly.

"I am afraid the fel